System and method for using image data in connection with configuring a universal controlling device

ABSTRACT

A user provides to an image recognition system an image that is intended to be used to identify one or more appliances that are to be controlled by a universal controlling device. The image recognition system has access to a database of images that have been cross-referenced to appliances and configuration information for those appliances. The image recognition system uses the provided image to identify one or more appliances to be controlled using the universal controlling device and, accordingly, the configuration information for those one or more appliances so identified. The configuration information may then be provided to a user for manual provision to the universal controlling device or be provided in a form for downloading into the universal controlling device, whether directly or via an intermediate device. The configuration information may also be provided to an intermediate device which has programming for use in connection with a process of configuring the universal controlling device.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application claims the benefit of and is a divisional of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/437,251, filed on May 19, 2006, whichapplication is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Universal controlling devices, for example, remote controls, which areadaptable to issue commands to a multiplicity of appliances of differenttype and/or manufacture, and the features and functionality provided bysuch controlling devices are well known in the art. In this regard,early universal controlling devices such as described in U.S. Pat. No.4,623,887 were generally “learners,” that is, they were adapted tocapture, store, and subsequently play back the command signals of theoriginal equipment remote controls corresponding to the appliances to becontrolled. However, the required initial teaching process used toconfigure such early universal controlling devices proved tedious anderror prone.

To address this drawback, further universal controlling devices wereintroduced which included preprogrammed libraries of command code sets,such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,774,511 or 4,959,810. Asparticularly described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,810, to configure such auniversal controlling device a user is required to consult a referencemanual or the like to obtain a setup cock that corresponds to anintended target appliance. The setup code is then keyed into theuniversal controlling device where it is used to select a command codeset from the library of command code sets stored in the universalcontrolling device whereupon the selected command code set is to be usedwhen the universal controlling device is instructed to issue commands tothat intended target appliance.

As alternatives to a user looking up a setup code and manually keyingthe setup code into the universal controlling device for the purpose ofconfiguring the universal controlling device, U.S. Published ApplicationNos. 2006/0050142, 2004/0070491, and 2003/0189509 and U.S. Pat. Nos.6,225,938 and 6,157,319 illustrate and describe using information from,for example, an RFID tag, bar code, appliance generated signal, userinteraction with a locally displayed or remotely (e.g., computer orInternet) accessible menu, etc. to identify the appliance intended to becontrolled which information is accordingly used to select a commandcode set from a library of command code sets to be used when sendingcommands to that appliance. As further described in these references,the library of command codes sets may be stored locally on the universalcontrolling device or in a database accessible to the universalcontrolling device where the selected command code sets are thusdownloaded into the universal controlling device. As additionallydescribed in these references, the information used to identify one ormore intended target appliances may also be used to configure a macrocommand sequence to command operations of the one or more appliances, toconfigure a user interface for the universal controlling device in amanner that is also applicable to the appliance(s) to be controlled,etc.

Still further, universal controlling devices are known that allow a userto key into the universal controlling device information that is used toconfigure the universal controlling device to command additionaloperations of an intended target appliance. One such universalcontrolling device is described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No.5,515,052. A yet further system and method for configuring a universalcontrolling device to command operations of an intended target applianceis described and illustrated in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No.11/389,627, entitled “System And Method For Defining A Controlled DeviceCommand Set,” filed on Mar. 24, 2006.

It is also known in the art to configure a universal controlling deviceto thereby provide to the universal controlling device a user interfacethat has the same appearance as the original equipment remote controlcorresponding to the appliances to be controlled. For example, U.S. Pat.No. 6,938,101 illustrates and describes a universal controlling devicethat provides a user interface in the form of a virtual remote controlthat has the key layout and appearance of an original equipment remotecontrol. Similarly, PCT Published Application WO 2005/043484 illustratesand describes a universal controlling device having a camera where thecamera is used to capture an image of an original equipment remotecontrol which captured image is then used in the user interface of theuniversal controlling device.

While these variously known systems and methods for configuring auniversal controlling device generally work for their intended purpose,a need remains for a system and method that provides a yet moreconvenient and user friendly way for configuring a universal controllingdevice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this and other needs, the following generallydescribes a system and method for using image data in connection with aprocess for configuring a universal controlling device. To this end, auser provides to a system an image that is intended to be used toidentify one or more appliances that are to be controlled by theuniversal controlling device. The image may be an image of the applianceitself, of an original equipment remote control for the appliance, of abar code associated with the appliance, of packaging for the appliance,of a catalog or user manual page or illustration, or any other type ofimagery which functions to identify the appliance intended to becontrolled. More particularly, the image is provided to an imagerecognition system having access to a database of images that have beencross-referenced to appliances and configuration information for thoseappliances. In this regard, configuration information may be one or morepointers to data, such as data stored on the universal controllingdevice, a computing device capable of communicating with the universalcontrolling device, etc. and/or data itself. The image recognitionsystem may use the provided image to identify one or more appliances tobe controlled using the universal controlling device and, accordingly,the configuration information for those one or more appliances soidentified. The configuration information may then be provided to a userfor manual provision to the universal controlling device or be providedin a form for downloading into the universal controlling device, whetherdirectly or via an intermediate device. The configuration informationmay also be provided to an intermediate device which has programming foruse in connection with a process of configuring the universalcontrolling device. In any of these cases, the configuration informationmay be used to select or create one or more command code sets forconfiguring the universal controlling device to command operations ofone or more appliances, select or create one or more commands forconfiguring the controlling device to command operations of one or moreappliances, such as extended operations, select or create user interfaceelements, user interface pages, etc. for use on the universalcontrolling device, provide mappings between one or more commands andone or more user interface elements of the universal controlling device,etc.

A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, propertiesand relationships of the invention will be obtained from the followingdetailed description and accompanying drawings which set forthillustrative embodiments and which are indicative of the various ways inwhich the principles of the invention may be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various aspects of the invention,reference may be had to preferred embodiments shown in the attacheddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system in which an exemplary controllingdevice according to the instant invention may be used;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary system in which an image is used toobtain configuration data for use in the exemplary controlling device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary components for use in the exemplarycontrolling device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method for using an image to obtainconfiguration data for use in the exemplary controlling device of FIG.1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a screen shot of a Web page by which a user mayidentify one or more objects within the image to be used to obtainconfiguration data for use in the exemplary controlling device of FIG.1;

FIG. 6 illustrates a screen shot of a Web page by which a user mayrefine the identity of an original equipment remote control to obtainconfiguration data for use in the exemplary controlling device of FIG.1;

FIG. 7 illustrates a screen shot of a Web page by which a user mayidentify an original equipment remote control in order to obtainconfiguration data for use in the exemplary controlling device of FIG.1; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a screen shot of a Web page by which a user mayidentify an appliance model in order to obtain configuration data foruse in the exemplary controlling device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an exemplary system in whicha to controlling device 100 is configured to control variouscontrollable appliances, such as a television 102 and set top box(“STB”) 104. As is known in the art, the controlling device 100 iscapable of transmitting commands to the appliances, using any convenientIR, RF, Point-to-Point, or networked protocol, to cause the appliancesto perform operational functions. While illustrated in the context of atelevision 102, STB 104, and DVR 106, it is to be understood thatcontrollable appliances may include, but need not be limited to,televisions, VCRs, DVRs, DVD players, cable or satellite converterset-top boxes (“STBs”), amplifiers, CD players, game consoles, homelighting, drapery, fans, HVAC systems, thermostats, personal computers,etc.

With reference to FIG. 3, for use in commanding the functionaloperations of one or more appliances, the controlling devices 100 mayinclude, as needed for a particular application, a processor 300 coupledto a ROM memory 304, a RAM memory 305, a key matrix 316 (e.g., hardkeys, soft keys such as a touch sensitive surface overlaid on a liquidcrystal (LCD), and/or an electroluminescent (EL) display), transmissioncircuit(s) 310 and/or transceiver circuit(s) (e.g., IR and/or RF), anon-volatile read/write memory 306, a means 302 to provide feedback tothe user (e.g., One or more LEDs, display, speaker, and/or the like), apower source 308, an input/output port 318 such as a serial interface,modem, Zigbee, WiFi, or Bluetooth transceiver, USB port, etc., a digitalimage capture means such as a lens and associated CCD sensor 320, andclock and timer logic 312 with associated crystal or resonator 314.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, some or all of thememories 304, 305, 306 may include executable instructions(collectively, the program memory) that are intended to be executed bythe processor 300 to control the operation of the remote control 100, aswell as data which serves to define the aforementioned control protocolsand command values to the operational software (collectively, thecommand data). In this manner, the processor 300 may be programmed tocontrol the various electronic components within the remote control 100,e.g., to monitor the power supply 308, to cause the transmission ofsignals, control the image capture means 320, etc. The non-volatileread/write memory 306, for example an EEPROM, batter-backed up RAM,FLASH, Smart Card, memory stick, or the like, may additionally beprovided to store setup data and parameters as necessary. While thememory 304 is illustrated and described as a ROM memory, memory 304 canalso be comprised of any type of readable media, such as ROM, FLASH,EEPROM, or the like. Preferably, the memories 304 and 305 arenon-volatile or battery-backed such that data is not required to bereloaded after battery changes. In addition, the memories 304, 305 and306 may take the form of a chip, a hard disk, a magnetic disk, anoptical disk, and/or the like. Still further, it will be appreciatedthat some or all of the illustrated memory devices may be physicallyincorporated within the same IC chip as the microprocessor 300 (a socalled “microcontroller”) and, as such, they are shown separately inFIG. 3 only for the sake of clarity.

To cause the controlling device 100 to perform an action, thecontrolling device 100 is adapted to be responsive to events, such as asensed user interaction with the key matrix 316, etc. in response to anevent, appropriate instructions within the program memory (hereafter the“operating program”) may be executed. For example, when a function keyis actuated on the controlling device 100, the controlling device 100may retrieve from the command data the command value and controlprotocol corresponding to the actuated function key and the currentdevice mode, from memory 304, 305, 306 and transmit the to command to anintended target appliance, e.g., STB 104, in a format recognizable bythat appliance. It will be appreciated that the operating program can beused not only to cause the transmission of command codes and/or data tothe appliances, but also to perform local operations. While notlimiting, local operations that may be performed by the controllingdevice 100 may include displaying information/data, favorite channelsetup, macro key setup, function key relocation, etc. Examples of localoperations can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,481,256, 5,959,751, and6,014,092. An additional local operation is the ability to “lock”function keys across device operational modes as described in U.S.Published Patent Application No. 2003/0025840.

For configuring the controlling device 100 to command operations of oneor more appliances, the system and method described hereinafter uses animage that is provided to the system for the purpose of identifying tothe system the one or more appliance with which the controlling device100 is to be used. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, an external imagecapturing device 202, such as a digital camera or any device withimaging capabilities, e.g., a cell phone, scanner, etc., may be used tocapture an image that is to be uploaded to a system 204 having imagerecognition software and access to a database 206 of reference imagesthat have been further cross-referenced to configuration data forappliances known to be represented by object(s) within the referenceimages. Alternatively, an image capture device 320 may be built into theremote control itself for this purpose.

In various embodiments the uploaded data may be an image or images ofindividual items, as illustrated for example by the remote control image604 of FIG. 6, or may comprise a composite image of a group of items, asillustrated for example by the group of appliances to be controlled 500of FIG. 5. In either event the system 204 functions to discern from theinformation present in the image the one or more appliances to becontrolled using the controlling device 100 to thereby select theappropriate configuration data that is to be used to configure thecontrolling device 100 to command operations of the appliances sodiscerned. Since the methods by which image recognition software mayseparate out (where necessary) and discern a match between one or moreobjects within an image and a corresponding object within a referenceimage are well known, for example being described in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,952,496, 6,763,148, 6,115,495, or 5,263,098, these methods will not bedescribed further herein for the sake of brevity. It is understood thatone skilled in the art of image recognition processing algorithms,techniques, and methods may implement an imaging system as describedherein using ordinary skill and without undue experimentation.

To provide the image to the system 204, the image may be uploaded fromthe external 202 or internal 320 image capture device directly to thesystem 204 via a network, such as the Internet or PSTN, and/or may beuploaded to the system 204 via an intermediate computer 208 which, inturn, is in communication with the system 204 via a network, such as theInternet or PSTN. In this context, uploading of image information tointermediate computer 208 may be wireless (e.g., via a WiFi local areanetwork) or wired (e.g. via USB), and may occur in real time or offline, all without limitation. Similarly, the configuration data that isto be used to configure the controlling device 100 may be returned fromthe system 204 directly to the controlling device 100 via a network,such as the Internet or PSTN, and/or may be returned to an intermediatecomputer 208 via a network, such as the Internet or PSTN. At theintermediate computer 208, the configuration data may be simplydownloaded to the controlling device 100 using the same or a differentmethod as was used for uploading of the captured image and/or it may beused at the intermediate computer 208 in connection with a configurationbuilding application resident of the intermediate computer 208 tothereby define a configuration which defined configuration may then bedownloaded to the controlling device 100 as described in, for example,U.S. Published Application No. 2006/0050142. While the system 204 isillustrated as being a network server computer, it will be appreciatedthat elements described as being a part of the system 204 may beresident, in whole or in part, on a local computing device. Also,intermediate computer 208 may take the form of a conventional PC, anetwork gateway device, a cable, satellite, or IPTV set top box, etc.,without limitation.

In an exemplary embodiment, it is contemplated that a user will accessthe system 204, for example by means of a Web browsing application, andwill then upload an image to the system 204 that is intended to identifyone or more appliances that the controlling device 100 is to beconfigured to control. To this end, the system 204 may provide guidanceto a user by instructing the user to upload an image of an object thatis likely to correspond to a reference object image stored in thedatabase 206. By way of example and not intended to be limiting, thedatabase 206 of the system 204 may have reference object images fororiginal equipment remote controls (e.g., of remote control 200),appliances (e.g., of TV 102, VCR 104, PVR 106), appliance packaging,appliance barcodes, etc.

Once an image is uploaded to the system 204, the system 204 will use theimage recognition software to attempt to discern a match between one ormore objects in the uploaded image and the objects within the referenceimages stored in the database 206. In the event that the system 204 isunable to find a match for an object included in an uploaded image, thesystem 204 may notify the user that a match was not found and in caseswhere the uploaded image includes more than one object the system 204may further display the uploaded image 500 and request that a userselect object(s) within the image 500 that are to be reconsidered by theimage recognition software as is illustrated in FIG. 5. In this caseselection may be made by marking 502 one or more locations within theimage 500, by drawing a boundary around one or more objects show in thedisplayed image 500, etc. and the system 204 may then use the markedpart(s) of the uploaded image to reattempt to find a match between theselected object(s) and a reference image. Alternatively or inconjunction with the above, system 204 may cause to be displayed arepresentative sample of possible images from database 206, as furtherdescribed hereafter in connection with FIGS. 6 through 8. In thisregard, it is to be appreciated that these displayed images areconsidered to be a match with the uploaded image by the imagerecognition software on at least some level. The system 204 may alsorequest that a user select one or more objects within an uploaded imageprior to the image recognition software attempting to discern a match.

In the case where the image recognition software finds one or morematches for one or more objects within the uploaded image, the system204 may display to the user the matched reference image(s) and/orappliance brand name, model (e.g., “the image indicates that thetelevision is a Sony KV32HX15”), etc. and ask the user to confirm thematch. In the case where multiple matches are found, the user may beasked to select one or more of the reference images as being thereference images for the appliances of interest to the user. By way offurther example, FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary Web page display 600 inwhich the image matching process of system 204 has determined that twopossibilities exist for a submitted image 604. The distinguishingcharacteristics 606, 608 (button labels, in the example shown) may behighlighted to the user together with a request 602 to select which ofthe two pictures best matches the user's original equipment remote.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative method which may be used either inconjunction with that described above (for example, where a submittedimage is of too low a quality to allow unambiguous matching) orindependently (for example where a user does not have any imagecapturing means available). In this method, a user may supply basicselection criteria such as for example a brand name 702 and/or equipmenttype. System 204 may respond with a display 700 presenting a group ofimages 704 from database 206 all of which correspond to the suppliedcriteria, while prompting 710 the user to select the image which mostclosely resembles their item of equipment: in the example presented theoriginal equipment remote control. Provision 706 may be made for morethan one page of images. Additionally, it will be understood thatselection of certain images, for example 708, may result in a furtherrequest as previously discussed in connection with FIG. 6. It will alsobe understood that although the example illustrated in FIG. 7 utilizesimages of original equipment remote controls, other appropriate imagesets, or mixtures of image sets may be used, for example images of theappliances themselves as illustrated in display 800 of FIG. 8, withoutlimitation.

Once the system 204 has a confirmed match between reference image(s)within the database 206 and one or more objects within an uploadedimage, whether system confirmed or user confirmed, the system 204 maythen prepare the configuration data for the appliance(s) that have beencross-referenced to the matched reference image(s) for downloading. Inthis regard, the configuration data may be a complete command data setfor an appliance(s), a pointer used to identify a command data set foran appliance(s) within a library of command data sets (e.g., a directentry code for automatic or manual provision to the universalcontrolling device 100), a complete user interface (e.g., one or moreuser interface pages having one or more user interface elements), apointer used to identify one or more user interface elements in alibrary of user interface elements, data for creating a new command dataset for an appliance, data for creating a new function command for anappliance, etc. Further, upon confirmation system 204 may use anyuploaded image data to supplement or refine reference image database 206in order to improve future performance.

In the case where multiple appliances have been identified to the system204, whether in a single picture or by tracking past user uploads andidentifications, the system 204 may prepare one or more macros forcommanding the operations of the known appliances for possible inclusionin the controlling device 100, as described in U.S. application Ser. No.10/411,792, e.g., to turn on a television, tune a television to aparticular channel, turn on a DVD player, turn on a home theater audiosystem, etc. Similarly, the configuration data may include programmingfor establishing user interface pages, such as a page which presentsuser interface elements for use in controlling the multiple, identifiedappliances as described in U.S. Published Application No. 2006/0050142.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the configuration data for theidentified appliance(s) may be downloaded directly to the controllingdevice 100 whereupon the programming of the controlling device 100 mayuse the data to automatically configure the controlling device 100 tocommunicate command(s) to the appliance(s) so identified from theuploaded image by the system 204. As additionally noted, the programmingof the controlling device 100 may also use downloaded configuration datato automatically configure the user interface of the controlling deviceto provide a means for a user to cause the controlling device 100 tocommunicate the command(s) to the appliance(s) so identified. By way ofexample and not intended to be limiting, the downloaded data may causethe controlling device 100 to select from a pre-stored library ofcommand data sets a command data set to be used in transmitting commandsto an appliance identified by the uploaded image, may cause thecontrolling device 100 to store and use a complete data set for anappliance identified by the uploaded image, may cause the controllingdevice 100 to select from a pre-stored library of user interfaceelements a user interface element to be interacted with to cause thecontrolling device 100 to transmit a command to an appliance identifiedby the uploaded image, etc.

As also illustrated in FIG. 2, the configuration data may be downloadedto an intermediate computer 208. The configuration data may then bedownloaded to the controlling device 100 when the controlling device 100is placed into communication with the intermediate computer 208 wherethe programming of the controlling device 100 may use the configurationin the manner discussed above as if it had been provided to thecontrolling device 100 directly. Still further, the intermediatecomputer 208 may use the configuration data to, for example, displaykeystrokes that are to be entered via the key matrix of the controllingdevice 100 to configure the controlling device to communicate commandsto an appliance identified by the uploaded image and/or to configure theuser interface used to initiate the transmission of command(s) to anappliance identified by the uploaded image. Yet further, theintermediate computer 208 may have programming that uses theconfiguration data, whether it be a downloaded, full command code set ora pointer to a command code set and/or user interface elementsaccessible to the intermediate computer 208, to allow for the creationof a configuration that is to be ultimately downloaded into thecontrolling device, as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No.6,211,870 or U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2006/0050142.

In an embodiment in which controlling device 100 includes a touch screendisplay, should system 204 be unable to match an uploaded image of anoriginal equipment remote control to any item in reference database 206,the captured image may be displayed on the face of controlling device100 and used as a button template to guide a user in “learning” thefunctions of the original equipment remote control, as described forexample in PCT published patent application WO 2005/043484. It will beappreciated that in this event, upon completion of the teaching processthe learned command data as well as mappings between the command dataand keys of imaged remote control may be subsequently uploaded to system204 for storage together or in association with the previously unmatchedimage. Such uploaded learned data may then be used directly as, or as across-reference to, configuration data for use in connection with futurematches to that image.

While various concepts have been described in detail, it will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications andalternatives to those concepts could be developed in light of theoverall teachings of the disclosure. For example, while one disclosedexemplary embodiment contemplates delivery of configuration data key-insequences via the Internet or similar interactive electronic means, itwill be appreciated that in alternative embodiments these may bedelivered to a customer verbally over the telephone by a servicerepresentative or an automated dial-in service, mailed to a customereither electronically or by way of the postal service, published on acommunity bulletin hoard, electronic or otherwise, etc., all withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. It will also to beappreciated that the database and system for performing imagerecognition may be logically and/or physically distinct from thedatabase and system ultimately used to provide configuration informationand data for the controlling device—for example an image recognitionsystem may discern and identify an appliance by its model number, whichmodel number may then be subsequently supplied to a separate systemwhich utilizes the identified model number as an index into a databaseof device setup information and/or downloadable control codes. Further,while various aspects of this invention have been described in thecontext of functional modules and illustrated using block diagramformat, it is to be understood that, unless otherwise stated to thecontrary, one or more of the described functions and/or features may beintegrated in a single physical device and/or a software module, or oneor more functions and/or features may be implemented in separatephysical devices or software modules. It will also be appreciated that adetailed discussion of the actual implementation of each module is notnecessary for an enabling understanding of the invention. Rather, theactual implementation of such modules would be well within the routineskill of an engineer, given the disclosure herein of the attributes,functionality, and inter-relationship of the various functional modulesin the system. Therefore, a person skilled in the art, applying ordinaryskill, will be able to practice the invention set forth in the claimswithout undue experimentation. It will be additionally appreciated thatthe particular concepts disclosed are meant to be illustrative only andnot limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given thefull breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.

All patents cited within this document are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

1. A method for providing a universal controlling device withconfiguration information to enable the universal controlling device tocommunicate commands to one or more target appliances, comprising:uploading to an image recognition system having an associated databaseof images that are cross-referenced to configuration information for aplurality of appliances an image and one or more command codes learnedfrom a controlling device; storing the uploaded image in the database ofimages associated with the image recognition system; cross-referencingto the uploaded image as configuration information at least the one ormore uploaded command codes learned from the controlling device; and inresponse to a request to the image recognition system to receiveconfiguration information which includes an image that the imagerecognition system discerns to be a match for the uploaded image,providing for use in configuring the universal controlling device theconfiguration information cross-referenced to the uploaded image.
 2. Themethod as recited in claim 1, wherein the uploaded image represents thecontrolling device from which the command codes were learned.
 3. Themethod as recited in claim 2, comprising uploading to the imagerecognition system a mapping between the one or more command codes andkeys of controlling device from which the command codes were learned andincluding the mapping as part of configuration informationcross-referenced to the uploaded image.
 4. The method as recited inclaim 3, comprising using a controlling device having a camera andprogramming for learning command codes to capture an image of thecontrolling device and to learn the one or more command codes from thecontrolling device.